Samoyed

ORIGIN : Northern Russia and Siberia.
UTILIZATION : Sledge- and companion dog.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : The name Samoyed derives
from the Samoyed Tribes in Northern Russia and Siberia. In Southern
parts of the area they used white, black and brown parti-coloured dogs
as reindeer herders ; in the northern parts the dogs were pure white,
had a mild temperament and were used as hunting- and sledge dogs.
The Samoyed dogs lived close to their owners, they even slept within
the shelters and were used as heaters. The British zoologist Ernest
Kilburn Scott spent three months among Samoyed Tribes in 1889.
Returning to England he brought with him a brown male puppy called
« Sabarka ». Later he imported a cream coloured bitch called
« Whitey Petchora » from the western side of the Urals and a snow
white male called « Musti » from Siberia. These few dogs and those
brought by the explorers are the base for the western Samoyed. The
first standard was written in England in 1909.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Medium in size, elegant, a white
Arctic Spitz. In appearence gives the impression of power, endurance,
charm, suppleness, dignity and self-confidence.
The expression, the so called « Samoyed Smile », is made up of a
combination of eye shape and position, and the slightly curved up
corners of the mouth. The sex should be clearly stamped.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : The length of the body is
approximately 5% more than the height at the withers. The depth of
the body is slightly less than the half of the height at the withers. The
muzzle is approximately as long as the skull.

BEHAVIOR AND TEMPERAMENT : Friendly, open, alert and
lively. The hunting instinct is very slight. Never shy nor aggressive.
Very social and cannot be used as guard dog.

HEAD : Powerful and wedge-shaped.

CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : viewed from the front and in profile only slightly convex.
Broadest between the ears. Slightly visible furrow between the eyes.
Stop : Clearly defined but not too prominent.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Well developed, preferably black. During some periods of the
year the pigment of the nose can fade to a so called « winter nose » ;
there must however always be dark pigment at the edges of the nose.
Muzzle : Strong and deep, approximately as long as the skull,
gradually tapering towards the nose, neither snipey nor heavy and
square. The bridge of the nose is straight.
Lips : Close fitting, black and rather full. The corners of the mouth
are slightly curved forming the characteristic « Samoyed Smile ».
Jaws/Teeth : Regular and complete scissor bite. The teeth and the
jaws are strong. Normal dentition.
Eyes : Dark brown in colour, well-set in the sockets, placed rather
apart, somewhat slanting and almond-shaped. The expression is
« smiling », kind, alert and intelligent. The eyerims are black.
Ears : Erect, rather small, thick, triangular and slightly rounded at the
tips. They should be mobile, set high ; due to the broad skull well
apart.
NECK : Strong and of medium length with a proud carriage.
BODY : Slightly longer than the height at the withers, deep and
compact but supple.
Withers : Clearly defined.
Back : Of medium length, muscular and straight ; in females slightly
longer than in males.
Loin : Short, very strong and defined.
Croup : Full, strong, muscular and slightly sloping.
Chest : Broad, deep and long, reaching almost to the elbows. The ribs
are well sprung.
Underline : Moderate tuck-up.
TAIL : Set rather high. When the dog is alert and in motion the tail is
carried bent from the root forward over the back or side, but may be
hanging at rest, then reaching to the hocks.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS :
General appearance : Well placed and muscular with strong bones.
Viewed from the front straight and parallel.
Shoulder : Long, firm and sloping.
Upper arm : Oblique and close to the body. Approximately as long as
the shoulder.
Elbow : Close to the body.
Carpus : Strong but supple.
Metacarpus (Pastern) : Slightly oblique.
Fore Feet : Oval with long toes, flexible and pointing straight forward.
Toes arched and not too tightly knit. Elastics pads.
HINDQUARTERS :
General appearance : Viewed from behind straight and parallel with
very strong muscles.
Upper thigh : Of medium length, rather broad and muscular.
Stifle : Well angulated.
Hocks : Rather low and well angulated.
Metatarsus : Short, strong, vertical and parallel.
Hindfeet : As front feet. The dewclaws should be removed.
GAIT : Powerful, free and tireless in appearance with long stride.
Good reach in the forequarters and good driving power in the
hindquarters.
COAT
HAIR : Profuse, thick, flexible and dense polar coat. The Samoyed is
a double coated dog with short, soft and dense undercoat and longer,
more harsh and straight outer coat. The coat should form a ruff
around the neck and shoulders framing the head, especially in males.
On head and on front of legs, hair is short and smooth ; on outside of
ears short, standing off and smooth. Inside the ears should be well
furred. On back of the thighs the hair forms trousers. There should be
a protective growth of hair between the toes. The tail should be
profusely covered with hair. The coat of the female is often shorter
and softer in texture than that of the male. The correct coat texture
should always have a special glistening sheen.
COLOR : Pure white, cream or white with biscuit. (The basic
colour to be white with a few biscuit markings.) Should never give
the impression of being pale brown.
SIZE :
Height at withers : Ideal height : male 57 cm with a tolerance of ± 3
cm and females 53 cm with a tolerance of ± 3 cm.